Rule 1002. Requirement of the Original
An original writing, recording, or photograph is required in order to prove its content unless these rules or a federal statute provides otherwise. Fed. R. Evid. 1002
Rule 1003. Admissibility of Duplicates
A duplicate is admissible to the same extent as the original unless a genuine question is raised about the original's authenticity or the circumstances make it unfair to admit the duplicate. Fed. R. Evid. 1003
Rule 1004. Admissibility of Other Evidence of Content
An original is not required and other evidence of the content of a writing, recording, or photograph is admissible if:
(a) all the originals are lost or destroyed, and not by the proponent acting in bad faith;
(b) an original cannot be obtained by any available judicial process;
(c) the party against whom the original would be offered had control of the original; was at that time put on notice, by pleadings or otherwise, that the original would be a subject of proof at the trial or hearing; and fails to produce it at the trial or hearing; or
(d) the writing, recording, or photograph is not closely related to a controlling issue. Fed. R. Evid. 1004
Rule 1005. Copies of Public Records to Prove Content
The proponent may use a copy to prove the content of an official record--or of a document that was recorded or filed in a public office as authorized by law--if these conditions are met: the record or document is otherwise admissible; and the copy is certified as correct in accordance with Rule 902(4) or is testified to be correct by a witness who has compared it with the original. If no such copy can be obtained by reasonable diligence, then the proponent may use other evidence to prove the content. Fed. R. Evid. 1005
92.13. Certified Copies of Records of Certified Copies
Certified copies of the record of certified copies of deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney and other instruments referred to in s. 695.19 shall have the same effect as to notice and all other purposes whatsoever as the record of the original has or can have; and certified copies of the record of such certified copies shall be admissible and may be used in evidence in the same manner and with like effect and under the same conditions as certified copies of the record of the original instrument. Fla. Stat. § 92.13.
92.18. Certificate of State Officer
The certificate of any state officer, under seal of office, as to any official act occurring in the course of the official business of the office in which the state officer presides, shall be prima facie evidence of such fact. Fla. Stat. § 92.18.
92.19. Portions of Records
In all cases where any certified copy of any record, pleading, document, deed, conveyance, paper or instrument in writing, involving the title to real estate shall be lawfully admissible in evidence in any of the courts of this state, a certified copy of such portions of such instrument as shall contain the essential parts thereof and only such portion of the descriptive matter thereof as shall be involved in the case on trial, shall likewise be admissible in evidence; and in no case shall it be necessary to include in such certified copies descriptive matter not involved in the case in which such copy is offered in evidence. Fla. Stat. § 92.19.
92.231. Expert Witnesses; Fee
(1) The term “expert witness” as used herein shall apply to any witness who offers himself or herself in the trial of any action as an expert witness or who is subpoenaed to testify in such capacity before a state attorney in the investigation of a criminal matter, or before a grand jury, and who is permitted by the court to qualify and testify as such, upon any matter pending before any court.
(2) Any expert or skilled witness who shall have testified in any cause shall be allowed a witness fee including the cost of any exhibits used by such witness in an amount agreed to by the parties, and the same shall be taxed as costs. In instances where services are provided for the state, including for state-paid private court-appointed counsel, payment from state funds shall be in accordance with standards adopted by the Legislature.
(3) In a criminal case in which the state or an indigent defendant requires the services of an expert witness whose opinion is relevant to the issues of the case, the expert witness shall be compensated in accordance with standards adopted by the Legislature. Fla. Stat. § 92.231.
92.233. Compensation of Witness Summoned in Two or More Criminal Cases
A witness subpoenaed in two or more criminal cases pending at the same time shall be paid one charge for per diem and mileage, but when the costs are taxed against the defendant, a witness may charge the full amount in each case. Fla. Stat. § 92.233.
92.29. Photographic or Electronic Copies
Photographic reproductions or reproductions through electronic recordkeeping systems made by any federal, state, county, or municipal governmental board, department or agency, in the regular course of business, of any original record, document, paper or instrument in writing or in an electronic recordkeeping system, which is, or may be, required or authorized to be made, filed, or recorded with that board, department or agency shall in all cases and in all courts and places be admitted and received as evidence with a like force and effect as the original would be, whether the original record, document, paper, or instrument in writing or in an electronic recordkeeping system is in existence or not. Fla. Stat. § 92.29.
